John Stuck

Oct. 24, 1936-Oct. 29, 2012

November 1, 2012

John Garrett Stuck, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, 76, Minot, died on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in a Minot hospital.

John was born on Oct. 24, 1936, in Perth Amboy, N.J., to John and Olga (Febick) Stuck. He grew up in Winfield Park, N.J., and graduated from Roselle Park High School. He attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute from 1954 to 1956 prior to joining the Air Force.

During his 26-year career, he piloted KC 135 tanker planes, served on the Strategic Air Command "Looking Glass" flying command post, and held various command positions. He served two extended tours of duty overseas, in Okinawa and Thailand. He retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel on Dec. 31, 1981.

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Following his retirement from the Air Force, he and his family continued to make their home in Minot. John became a family financial planner for USPA and IRA (now First Command) and later worked at ND Holdings and served as a consultant at Viking Fund Management until he retired in 2003.

John was an active member of his church everywhere he lived and of Zion Lutheran Church since 1976. He served on the Zion church council and was president of the congregation.

He pursued many hobbies and interests over the years, including hunting, fishing, camping, skiing, sailing, woodworking, gardening, glass bead making, traveling and reading. His interests were often sparked by local opportunities in the many places he lived, from skiing in the Pyrenees to smelt fishing in Michigan to sailing on Cape Cod to farming in North Dakota. John always shared his passions with family and friends.